Abstract

Rumen protozoa have been shown to invade and ingest plant particles
(Bauchop, 1979) and to produce the enzymes required for the digestion of
complex proteins and carboyhdrate. (Coleman, 1985). This paper reports a
morphological study on rumen protozoa preset in the rumen liquor of
cattle and swamp buffaloes fed fibrous diets. Investigations on the different morpholoqical forms of rumen liquor
protozoa were carried out using samples collected from 4 Kedah-Kelantan
cattle (Bos indicus) and 4 swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) at slaughter
before the morning feed. Two cattle and 2 buffaloes had been grazing
Setaria aphacelata var. splendida pasture for 5 weeks, while another 2
cattle and 2 buffaloes had been stall fed with palm press fibre (PPF)-based
diet for 3 weeks. The PPF-based diet consisted of a mixture of PPF
and 10 percent molasses (1:1) fed ad libitum., 400 g fish meal, 40 g urea
and 6 g (NH4)2S04. Rumen liquor was strained through 4 layers of muslin
cloth, fixed and stained for protozoa to be observed under the light
microscope. Rumen liquor was also sampled from fistulated animals for protozoal study. A sampling probe covered with two layers of nylon stockings was inserted
into the ventral rumen and the rumen liquor collected in the probe was
withdrawn with a syringe. Sampling was done before feeding, and at 1, 3
and 6 h after the onset of feeding. Rumen liquor collected was
immediately fixed and stained for protozoa. The liquor was observed for
the types of ciliates present and their counts at the various sampling
times.